Definition of flattery
flatteries
1a : the act or practice of flattering She uses the art of flattery to her advantage.b (1) : something that flatters A compliment is flattery … — Harry Shaw (2) : insincere or excessive praise He tried to win his teacher's favor with flattery.
2 obsolete : a pleasing self-deception
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Examples of flattery in a Sentence
He tried to win his teacher's favor with flattery.
a talk show host who is known for charming her guests with disingenuous flattery
Recent Examples of flattery from the Web
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By showing that the Eastern half of the continent often acts on the same anxieties as the Western half (or indeed, the United States), Krastev makes clear just how much self-flattery is involved in that assumption.
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Before her nuanced, deeply moving performance, plus-size people were just the butt of the joke: unlovable slapstick vehicles designed to shower the lithe protagonist with praise and flattery.
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While the gesture might have been seen as a sign of flattery, the price tag certainly gave Nicki pause; the wigs were selling for a total of $3,850.
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All that flattery out of the way….you know where Wimbledon could use a serious upgrade?
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But for Pence, such flattery has come to define his persona.
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Pay that homage to the roots, but again, the best compliment and best form of flattery is imitation.
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In Washington, Trump has alternated between bellicosity and flattery in his public statements about North Korea, but his administration is still working to solidify a policy to handle its nuclear ambitions.
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In both countries, where the hosts showered Trump with flattery and warmth, Trump played the role of gracious guest.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flattery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of flattery
see 1flatter
FLATTERY Defined for English Language Learners
flattery
playDefinition of flattery for English Language Learners
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: praise that is not sincere
FLATTERY Defined for Kids
flattery
playDefinition of flattery for Students
flatteries
: praise that is not deserved or meant
Learn More about flattery
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See words that rhyme with flattery Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flattery Spanish Central: Translation of flattery Nglish: Translation of flattery for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flattery for Arabic speakers
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